Chapter 14

The resonating hum emanating from the Ananias and Logos II echoes through the labyrinth of tunnels. Inside the Ananias, Node approaches Link.

"Any word from them?"

Link stretches his arms into the air, speaking over a yawn.

"Nothin. Not one thing. And being that they're in a place where I can't track them.all I can do is watch their vitals and hope for the best."

Startling both men, Councilor Hamaan's body flinches, then jolts in his chair. The monitor checking his vitals begins to beep furiously at the sudden action taken by his body. Link jumps from his chair to check the screens. Hamaan flinches again.

Hamaan hangs his head. His body slumped over, hanging from his wrists that are shackled to the wall behind him. Blood and mucous drip from his nose and mouth. He feels his eyes burning from the salty sweat that has run into them. Through the pain, he looks up at his captor. The man standing before him rubs his knuckles with his other hand.

"All I have to do is keep you alive. The Merovingian said nothing about using you as target practice though." Another blow from the man lands on Hamaan's chin. The noise of a train in the distance can be heard.

"Here come some more cellmates for you old man." The man's brow crinkles as he notices that his prisoner is chuckling.

"What's so funny old man?"

Hamaan lifts his head, a devilish grin on his face. "All that A.I. and your kind still can't read a poker face!" His arms tense, causing his veins to bulge in his wrists as he breaks his shackles from the wall, clapping both hands down over the temples of his captor.

"Didn't think I could do that did you?" Hamaan's clothes wisps in the wind as the train pulls in behind his captor, screeching to a stop. Hamaan approaches the man before him, wiping the blood from his nose. A startling silence overtakes the train station as the two men square off. As the doors open behind him, the man turns to see the Trainman punched square in the jaw, hurtling him backwards, landing on his back. The Kid steps off of the train, followed by Morpheus, Ghost, Niobe, and Seraph who is guarding the two hostages. Morpheus speaks out.

"Councilor Hamaan, sorry for the delay."

"No trouble Morpheus, I was just getting warmed up. Are we ready to leave?" Councilor Hamaan pushes his former captor aside.

"If you'll board the train, we'll make our way back to the Matrix, and our way back home." Morpheus motions to the train.

"You can't just." The Trainman, who is still composing himself, cuts off the man.

"Let them go, the old man's served his purpose for now."

The crew boards the train and it takes off down the track, headed for the terminal where Neo awaits.

The One sits on a bench in the train station, anxiously awaiting his friends to return. He hears the sound of grinding steel echoing from the tunnel. Standing, he walks toward the track in anticipation. Once the train arrives, the now complete crew steps off to meet Neo.

"Are they defeated?" Morpheus was curious about The Twins.

Glad to see the Councilor intact, Neo assures the crew, "Temporarily. Council Hamaan, glad to have you back with us."

Morpheus reaches for his phone and dials the Ananias.

On board the Ananias, Link is scanning the green code that populates his screen, relieved to see all parties there. Seeing on figure reach for something in his pocket, he looks at the incoming call light at his station, anticipating his captain's call. The sound of a phone call blasts through the ship.

"Operator."

"Link, we have Councilor Hamaan, we need an exit." His voice is confident and reassuring to Link.

"Carlson and 5th, service phone at the back of a meat packing plant."

Exiting the station, Neo pulls Morpheus aside while the crew loads into their vehicles.

"Morpheus, we must be careful, The Kid may be able to stop the Trainman, but we can't risk anything."

Morpheus remembers back to something the Trainman said. "Neo, the Trainman said something about more than the resistance hold court with The Oracle. Am I to believe that she's playing both sides of the court?"

"I assure you Morpheus, she only has our best intentions in mind. I've studied her code, it's like she's hard coded with allegiance with humanity. But I'm curious to what she could be referring too. If you would like to stay with me momentarily to speak with her, I can take you there and back to a hard line. It's up to you." Neo's face truly showed signs of concern.

Morpheus informs the crew that they are to wait until he returns from his meeting with the Oracle. As they leave toward the exit, Neo launches himself into the air, taking Morpheus with him.

Niobe was looking at the sky as the two men flew above the buildings surrounding them. "What do you think that's all about?"

Ghost was concentrating on navigating his way toward the exit. "I'm not sure, but I'd like to get back to the ship. I'm sure it'll be fine."

In a seemingly deserted part of town, a phone begins to ring. The door to a Cadillac Escalade opens slowly and a man wearing a French tailored suit slowly walks towards the ringing phone. Lifting the receiver, he speaks.

"Bonjour."

Sparks eyebrow raises. He was only attempting to test the line, double- checking Link's ability to find an exit out of boredom. "Uh.hello?" He sees the phone floating in mid air on his screen, but no one there. He taps into his messaging terminal, contacting Link.

"Tell Morpheus something for me, will you? Tell him that I'm sorry that I missed his visit, I truly regret it."

Sparks types away at his keyboard while the Merovingian speaks.

Sparks: "Are you seeing this? Switch your monitor to the exit."

".that I did not get a chance to see him. I do enjoy you're visits to my world. But also tell him that actions that his lap dog Neo did was out of line, and you will all be punished for this outburst."

Link: "Um.why is that phone floating?" Sparks: "Hold on for a second."

Sparks wanted to know whom he was speaking too. "I don't know what you're talking about.regardless, why should I do what you say?"

Sparks: "I'm talking to someone right now.but like you, I can't see him." Link: "The crew is almost there, keep him on the phone."

The man speaks through a heavy French accent. "Such spunk! Just pass the message on child; I'm sure he'll want to know. I must be going now."

Sparks needed to stall. "Listen frenchy, first of all, I'm not a child. Second."

Interrupting him, the Frenchman loudly states Adieu! The phone goes silent. On the screen, he sees the receiver hang itself back up and that's the last movement he sees. Moments later, the crew arrives at the exit. His COM rings.

His tone is full of annoyance. "Operator".

"What's wrong with you, Sparks? What did Link say to you now?" Ghost loved getting under his skin.

"Not now Ghost, put Niobe on, you need to get to Morpheus. Now!"

*Author's note: I'm so sorry that it has taken so long to update. I promise that there's more to come and it will be updated sooner than later! Also, if you know of anyone that likes the Matrix & Fanfiction to check this story out.I'd love their opinion too! :^)